Now that 2010 is coming to an end and people are starting to reflect on the past year, I think it would also be good to look back at a few of the topics we covered throughout the year. Early this year we talked about hydraulic filters and how, even though they are easily accessible, operators sometimes overlook them. Hydraulics, steering and brakes are essential to the safe operation of equipment. If you remember, I told you about the farmer who had called me and said his hydraulics weren’t working. While checking the system we looked at the hydraulic filter and found a large chunk of ice inside the filter.

A key factor for good milking is the hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin is responsible for milk letdown, and without oxytocin, cows will not be milked out completely or rapidly. Oxytocin is released into the blood in response to various stimuli, and causes contraction of the udder’s muscle cells. Milk is available for removal from the udder because of these contractions. The process of oxytocin release can start with stimulation of the teats, specifically the teat ends, as this is where most nerve receptors are located. The sound of the vacuum pump in the parlor, or even the act of walking to the parlor, can also be stimuli for oxytocin release. Milking procedures either contribute to or depend upon this release of oxytocin.

One of our favorite research activities is conducting cow watch. Something about the solitude of being with the cows, free of all other responsibilities, focused on documenting their movements, every five minutes for a four-hour shift… time and cares seem to fade away. Our cow watch protocol is to document cows’ body position (lying, standing or perching) and jaw movement (eating, ruminating, drinking or nothing) every five minutes over three consecutive days. We used to use 10-minute intervals, but for statistical purposes, five minutes is more precise and more statistically powerful.

There have been many reports on how to cut here and trim there to reduce expenses during these difficult times of lower milk prices and high commodities costs. However, there is a specific part of your dairy enterprise where, instead of cutting back, you should invest more than ever. Effectively training employees can generate a high return for dollars invested. As an example, milking procedures and milk quality training could save you from losing milk quality bonuses, and can reduce the incidence of new mastitis. Reduced mastitis can also save you money that would have been spent to treat the problem.

The onset of cold, wet winter weather can present a unique set of challenges when it comes to managing infectious lesions that cause lameness on a dairy. “While many dairies use footbath programs throughout the year to help control infectious lesions, use typically decreases during winter months due to the potential for ice formation and the fact that some footbath products, such as formaldehyde, are ineffective in cold conditions,” says Dr. Jeff DeFrain, research nutritionist, Zinpro Corporation. “The result is that the typical weather conditions can lead to a breakdown in skin integrity, allowing easy entry of bacteria into the foot.”

By tracking your income and expenses, you will know where your money goes and be better prepared to set up a realistic budget for future spending. Knowing how much you have to spend and spending no more than is allotted in each spending category puts you in control of your finances. Keep household and business records separate Most small business owners (including self-employed farmers, ranchers and entrepreneurs) are required to report the status of their business and business expenses prior to being approved for a loan and for income tax purposes. It is much easier to do if you keep separate books for household and business.